Jan 24th- Feb 2

Family,

What another great week! All right so first miracle of the week happened on Monday evening. We made plans to try by some potentials and then tract the rest of the evening. We prayed that we would be able to teach three lessons and have at least two new investigators. That evening all potentials fell through, however, we were blessed to accomplish our goals. I know the Lord answers prayers.

Nicodemus is doing really great! We have continued to teach him and he has really enjoyed the lessons. Unfortunately, he did not come to church because he said he was not ready yet. However, we are praying this week he will be “ready”!!! Each lesson we teach has been very spiritual he has been prepared.  Just as it says in Alma 16:16 this scripture is still ringing true here now in England.

Last night we also had some time to tract and we were blessed to get into the house of Charles. No not the prince but equally as loved by God! He was fascinated by the Book of Mormon and is excited to read and hear more.

Liam is also doing very well. He has come to church now three times but is still trying to figure out what to do about his girlfriend. They have been together for 6 years and he loves her but he doesn’t know now if he wants to marry someone who has no faith in God. Also, she is now not so excited about marriage after he came home and told her that they have been living in sin and God has commanded them to split or get married! We are continuing to pray for them. J

We were able to teach a Jamaican woman named Yessica. That was an adventure! She loves Jesus and is a professional singer. She also has braided hair down past her backside!    

Those seem to be the highlights of this week. Lots of good things are going on. Elder Davis is a great missionary and we have a good time together. Transfers are on the second of February so I won’t email you until Wednesday. That means on Tuesday you should email me. I don’t think I will be transferred but we will see.

Love,

Richard

MOM Happy birthday again!!!!!!

PS. Dad i did pay E. dredge for the papers. Does this mean i am an official owner of a company? haha :)

email from the mission home

Dear Parents,

We held a special zone conference the first week in January where we talked about Captain Moroni’s Title of Liberty and how that stood as a standard to the world.  We also talked about how a standard is a declaration of who we are, what we believe and what we stand for.  As part of the conference, we had each of the missionaries write their own title or standard representing these very things.  Prior to that, we gave them quiet time to ponder and pray to prepare for what they wanted to write and declare.  Then each of them had the opportunity to stand in front of the conference and explain their title and why they wrote what they did.  It was a moving and special event and described by many of the missionaries as a sacred experience in their life. 

Attached you will find two pictures of your missionary with their district; one picture as they were writing their standard and the second one as they were completed.  We thought you might enjoy seeing these pictures and sharing in the experience.

The mission is doing well because we have obedient, faithful and diligent missionaries.  We love them and it is truly an honor and blessing to serve with them.

Warm regards,

President and Sister Bullock

England Manchester Mission

Jan 17- 23

Family,

Wow, it has been another one of those incredible weeks. Miracles are not ceasing. First off, thank you so much for sending me your titles of liberty. Those were all really great (at least those who participated. Well I guess mom made up for those of you who didn’t!!!! ). I wish you could have all been there to hear the talks of President and Sister Bullock, they were likewise, amazing.  

Al right, well this week I have been on two exchanges one with the assistants and one with the zone leaders. On Wednesday, Elder Cowley (ZL) went out finding but before we went out we prayed that we would be able to teach someone on the spot. As soon as we got out to the bus stop we started talking to a woman and she agreed to let us teach her. We live really close to the church and so we walked over there and were able to teach her. To make the story even greater, there was a couple their doing something and we invited them into fellowship with us. In a matter of just half an hour we had a new investigator dated for baptism with fellowship!! God answers prayers!

For the past two weeks Elder Davis and I had these streets that we prayed about and felt impressed to tract. Because we have been teaching we haven’t had the time to get up there and tract and so it has just been in our back up plans literally every day for two weeks. Finally on Saturday night we had a few hours to tract and so we headed up there. We got off the bus and were not quite sure where the streets were but we felt good about the area so we began knocking. The first door we knocked was a man named Richard*** and we set up an appointment with him. We were feeling really good about his area and so we continued tracting. A few people told us there were only Muslimism’s and to try a different area but we didn’t listen and continued tracting. A few doors later Nicodemus answers and after a quick conversation invites us in.

He was incredible. We started teaching him and the spirit was so strong. After reciting the first vision, we asked, “how do you feel?” He said, it was kind of weird. I was like oh great okay well let’s carry on so I just bore my testimony and then carried on. At the end we committed him to be baptized and he explained to us why he had said it was kind of weird. That morning he had been praying like Joseph Smith seeking for answers. He wanted to know which church to join. He then accepted a baptismal date!!! The lord had led us straight to his door. He went on to say that he works very difficult shifts. Oh no i am out of time and the comp is going to shut off i will finish next week!!!!1

MoM I LOVE LOVE LVOE YOU YOU WILL GET MY LETTER IN 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

LOVE RICHARD     

Jan 10-17th

 Family,

What a week it has been! First off, we had another incredible Zone Conference. President and Sister Bullock continue to amaze me. Sister Bullock gave a talk about Captain Moroni and basically retold the last half of Alma. Her message was centered on the title of liberty and the effects it had on the people of that time. President then spoke about the modern day prophets and their titles of liberty.

The last half of Zone conference we got an hour to read our scriptures and find what our title of liberty would be. What do we stand for? What do we want people to see when they look us? What do you want to declare to the rest of the world? It was really great because at the end Sister Bullock past out pieces of rent cloth (a large patch of leather) for each of us and we got to make our own title of liberty. I put on mine True Believer in Christ and then put the reference to Mathew 7:21. At the end we each got to stand up and share our standards and then explain why. Great conference. What would you put as your title of liberty?       

Next, Martin got baptized! It was a great service and turn out. We had about 40 members show up. It was exciting that the day has finally come. We have been waiting for him to get his own flat and so once he got it the holidays got in the way. The final day has come at last!

Liam is also doing really well. Unfortunately, he has not been able to come to church because of work! Tomorrow or tonight we are teaching him the Law of Chastity and he has a partner. It is great because we are going to take Martin with us!

Funny, we have able to teach a man whose name is John Taylor! He really enjoyed church yesterday but after he said he couldn’t get over the fact that we didn’t accept evolution from monkeys...He is a really nice man and very smart but as it says in 2 Ne 9:28-29 it’s only good to be wise if you hearken unto the council of God.

We went on an exchange with the Assistance yesterday because of Elder Davis. It was really great. I went with elder lleguno from espania. Elder Davis is doing really well. We get along great and he has learned a lot in just short time. However, sometimes I feel like I am with a Benzon when it comes to dinner. Only teasing, the Benzon’s at least like cheese!!!! He eats eggs and bacon and cereal for almost every meal. It’s funny, but I cannot complain he is amazing.  

As a mission we have begun reading the doctrine and covenants highlighting all the versus that deal with missionary work and teaching with the spirit. It is my first time but it is going really well. Where I am reading, several of the saints are inquiring of Joseph Smith to receive revelation from the Lord on their behalf. I was pondering about how great that would be for myself until hit me that I already have that, my Patriarchal Blessing. Great to know that the lord has given us all the tools we need and then some to have direction in our life.

Family I love you all! Hope you’re all doing great.

Richard

Ps. I sent you that clock from the Isle of Man. I went to the little factory where the poor old man had his shop and was making those. It kind of quirky because it goes backwards but i thought that was really great!!! trey de lure means "time enough," like time doesn’t matter. Mom you wrote something in a letter about picking one of those up and I had already gotten that week. Spirit of Prophesy! You have not said anything about it do you agree??   

  

When I asked what your title of liberty would say i really want a response!!! :)

January 4th-10th

Family!

I loved the pictures, looks like Christmas was a lot of fun! Don’t worry; it was fun over here as well! All right, so New Years Eve and New Years Day we had off. On New Year’s Eve we went to a member’s home and we were able to watch Narnia. It was great they fed us homemade lasagna and also Elder Boswell and his companion were able to come.

New Years Day we were able to have a “lye in.” After that we went to some other members and they fed us an amazing roast dinner. They have kids our age and so we then played games like catch phrase and scategories. It was great fun. Later that evening we went to another member’s home and watched A Wonderful Life. I am glad I have done that once in my life I don’t think another viewing would be necessary. So that was the holidays.

This week Martin is going to be baptized!!!  He is doing really great and has made some huge changes in his life. It is amazing to see how even someone in their twenties can gain the greater perspective of this life and change.

Last night while we were tracking we ran into some funny characters as usual. However, toward the end of the night we saw a man a little far off and he had reflectors on his jacket so we thought he was a worker or a policeman. We speak to everyone so we ran up to him and started speaking with him. After a short conversation we asked him if we could walk to his home and teach him more. He agreed and so we walked home with him and taught him and his wife that evening! Miracles happen when you speak to everyone!

Elder Davis is doing really well. He has a great heart and is a much more humble trainee than I was. However, it is funny to see now that the roles are swapped the things I put my trainer through!!!

The reason I am writing late is because yesterday was a bank holiday. Sorry this is short we didn’t have as much time. I miss you and love you all.

Love,

Richard      

Ps. I loved the pictures!!!! Keep sending them.

PPS. I did not see any questions at the bottom to answer...

Dec 29th- Jan 4th

Family!

I loved the pictures, looks like Christmas was a lot of fun! Don’t worry, it was fun over here as well! All right, so New Years Eve and New Years Day we had off. On New Year’s Eve we went to a member’s home and we were able to watch Narnia. It was great they fed us homemade lasagna and also Elder Boswell and his companion were able to come. New Years Day we were able to have a “lye in.” After that we went to some other members and they fed us an amazing roast dinner. They have kids our age and so we then played games like catch phrase and scategories. It was great fun. Later that evening we went to another member’s home and watched A Wonderful Life. I am glad I have done that once in my life I don’t think another viewing would be necessary. So that was the holidays.

This week Martin is going to be baptized!!!  He is doing really great and has made some huge changed in his life. It is amazing to see how even someone in their twenties can gain the greater perspective of this life and change.

Last night while we were tracking we ran into some funny characters as usual. However, toward the end of the night we saw a man a little far off and he had reflectors on his jacket so we thought he was a worker or a policeman. We speak to everyone so we ran up to him and started speaking with him. After a short conversation we asked him if we could walk to his home and teach him more. He agreed and so we walked home with him and taught him and his wife that evening! Miracles happen when you speak to everyone!

Elder Davis is doing really well. He has a great heart and is a much more humble trainee than I was. However, it is funny to see now that the roles are swapped the things I put my trainer through!!!

The reason I am writing late is because yesterday was a bank holiday. Sorry this is short we didn’t have as much time. I miss you and love you all.

Love,

Richard      

Ps. I loved the pictures!!!! Keep sending them.

PPS. I did not see any questions at the bottom to answer...

Dec 20-29

Family,

I am going to assume that you are still in awe of our Video-chat hence no emails...

It has been an amazing start of the week. We have been able to teach quite a few people as well take part in a few priesthood blessings. Elder Eliason left us today for Liverpool and so we are no longer a threesome. He is a great missionary and we had an amazing time together. He will be missed.

Elder Davis is doing great. I learned some sad news about him the other day. If you remember, as I was getting ready to go on my mission there were two missionaries in Romania who died from carbon monoxide poisoning. One of those missionaries was Elder Davis brother. Regardless of that he is a tremendous missionary but adding that into the equation he is even more incredible. It doesn’t seem to affect him much but I know that it is difficult especially this Christmas time. Anyways, he goes out and works hard. He has already set appointments with people on the bus. I know missionaries who are getting ready to go home who still haven’t mastered that! He is doing great and we're having a wonderful time.

Christmas was great. I loved being able to speak to you. You did not disappoint, everyone was looking wonderful!

Well this is a short one. I love you all and am so grateful for everything you do as well for all of the amazing Christmas presents!!!! I loved everything and the flat smells so good now!! Tell everyone I love and miss them. It was great speaking to you on phone. I hope to hear from you soon...Monday preferably!

Love,

Richard

PS. Send pictures

Christmas Morning Jammies!

Christmas Day

Christmas skype call

Christmas Morning Skype Call with Richard